Howett admits Kobayashi likely for 2010 seat

Kamui Kobayashi has admitted his performance in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi grand prix was an impressive audition for a full Toyota race seat in 2010.

The Japanese rookie, subbing for the injured Timo Glock for the second race running, started twelfth and finished in sixth place, beating his veteran teammate Jarno Trulli and even overtaking world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button.

“At the moment there is nothing for me for next year, so I had to show my performance,” said the 23-year-old, the reigning GP2 Asia champion but just 16th in the feeder category’s main series this year.

It has long been rumoured that Toyota might promote its reserve driver for 2010, perhaps to appease the carmaker parent’s wavering Tokyo-based board, with both Glock and Jarno Trulli unlikely to be staying with the team.

Kobayashi, less impressive in terms of pace on debut in Brazil but feisty nonetheless with on-track battles, now rates his chances of carrying his good form into a full-time ride in 2010.

“Two months ago I had no chance to drive in formula one, but Toyota gave me a chance and now I have a really good opportunity for next year.

“It’s not yet confirmed, but of course Toyota is my priority because I’m a junior driver for Toyota and this is like my home so I’m definitely awaiting an answer,” he said.

Team boss Tadashi Yamashina said in Abu Dhabi: “Kamui did a fantastic job and we are very proud of him.”

Howett admits Kobayashi likely for 2010 seat

After watching Kamui Kobayashi race to sixth place in Abu Dhabi, Toyota team president John Howett on Sunday said the Japanese rookie had staked a worthy claim to a full-time race seat for 2010.

The Cologne based outfit is set to now part with both Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock, but both of its high-profile targets Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen have turned down Toyota’s advances.

Kobayashi, 23, demonstrated on-track flair two weeks ago in Brazil, and he allied that with genuine pace in Abu Dhabi as he again filled in for the injured Glock.

Asked if he was a shoe-in for a 2010 race seat, Howett told reporters: “It looks like it, yes.

“We have to really seriously consider him now after this good strong result,” said the Briton, explaining that Kobayashi’s chances are as good as 80 per cent.

Howett confessed he had harboured some doubts about Kobayashi, who despite winning the last GP2 Asia championship, has been less impressive in the F1 feeder category’s main series.

“I think it’s a definite lesson that sometimes we all should be braver in our driver choices and not go for the safer, risk-hedged decision,” he said.

Toyota cannot sign any drivers for next season until its 2010 budget is rubber-stamped at an executive board meeting in Tokyo in two weeks.

source: GMM